Somalia: January 29, 2004

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All of the tribes and 42 warlords agreed on a new government. The 275 members of parliament will be selected by tribal and clan leaders. Parliament will then elect a president. Since most warlords are also tribal or clan chiefs, this will probably work. The breakaway Puntland region will join the new Somalia, but not the other breakaway region; Somaliland. The new government is to be formed by the end of February. There have been 14 previous peace deals in the last 13 years, none of which worked. But none of the earlier  deals had such complete agreement. So this one might work.

A German UN aid worker was kidnapped in the south.